The Forbidden Path to Immortality - Chapter 20

Chapter 1: Humiliation

Lin Ge coughed twice, a blush rising to his face. “Fenghuang’er, you’ve become so impulsive! Just kill a brat like that, why humiliate him further?”

Yaofeng smiled faintly. “How can this be considered humiliation? If he’s truly unyielding, I’m only humiliating myself… But look at that face of his, isn’t it amusing?”

Li Xun listened to the words, his face then flushed, then chilled. Qi Yun was beside him, powerless to fight back. If he only raised his hand and struck, as Yaofeng had said, his life would be saved—that was the first thought that crossed his mind.

Yaofeng was right. If he were truly a righteous person, he would have immediately committed suicide, leaving a chance of survival for his companions. But this hesitation, regardless of his inner thoughts, would only expose the darkest side of human nature.

People like Li Xun always wrap their secrets in layers, afraid to reveal even the slightest bit in front of others, because even the slightest bit of it would mean a tragic failure.

And now, he lost miserably!

For a moment, he almost wanted to tear off all his pride, hit Qi Yun to death with a fierce palm, and then, relying on the breath of the demon phoenix, live a humble life like a dog.

However, hidden deep in his heart, a long-suppressed passion, a bit of bloodiness unique to young people, suddenly burst out and penetrated his mind.

He roared to the sky, suddenly turned his palm back, and struck his forehead – the true energy in his body, with a sound, became a mess. In the chaos, the flow of time began to slow down, and all the experiences of the past seventeen years flashed through his mind.

A youth of glory, followed by seven years of hardship, now a life-or-death struggle. That glimmer of hope, like a dust particle blown by the wind, drifted around him, offering no chance of grasping…

The scattered wind from his palms stung his skin, and that tiny pain, like a needle of ice from the Arctic snow, pierced his heart. Then, a chill shot through his forehead, freezing the last bit of passion in his blood.

All his daily fantasies suddenly surged back, filling his mind.

The freedom he’d pursued, the power he’d longed for, the immortal immortality he’d imagined—all burst forth in this moment! If he wanted these wishes to come true, how could he die now?

How could he die!

“Pah!”

A crisp sound of flesh clashing echoed, and Li Xun fell backward, sprawled on the ground, motionless. After several breaths, he sobbed twice, his face contorted, and he screamed and howled.

He wept heartbreakingly, while Yao Feng simply said, “Is this your disciple?”

Lin Ge chuckled twice, his laughter inaudible, but laughter at this moment was inherently unnatural.

Li Xun found he could no longer cry—he hadn’t felt like crying in the first place. He had only just changed sides at the last minute, feeling embarrassed, and so he forced out a few tears to ease his embarrassment. He had thought he’d concealed it well, but after listening to their conversation, he realized that in the eyes of the other party, it was nothing more than a clumsy farce! For a moment, he was filled

with shame and indignation, his eyes closed tightly, not daring to look at anyone. Now, he wanted only to find a crack in the ground and never come out again!

At that moment, a faint fragrance filled his nose and mouth, mingling with the smell of the dust on the ground, creating a unique aroma. He was stunned, and his mind realized that this was Yao Feng’s body fragrance.

He couldn’t help but open his eyes. He was met with Yao Feng’s fiery red skirt, a curtain of dozens of fine yarns, like dancing flames, instantly overwhelming his senses.

“Your apprentice looks kind!”

Li Xun had long since grown numb to such words. However, Yao Feng’s subsequent action was something he had never experienced before. He was lifted up, though slightly better than Qi Yun, with his feet still touching the ground. This allowed him to observe Yao Feng’s face up close. Even at such close quarters, he couldn’t find a single flaw. However, those deep, unfathomable eyes filled him with trembling.

Yao Feng released his grip, allowing him to stand. Li Xun struggled to steady his trembling legs and maintain his balance. The chattering of his teeth and the rustling of his clothes betrayed the overwhelming fear that had overwhelmed him.

Seeing his expression, Yao Feng laughed, “Why be nervous? Look at your master.”

Li Xun obeyed, twisting his stiff neck. But before he could see his target, he felt something warm against the side of his face.

His eyes widened, his body stiff as a log. He vaguely heard Yao Feng’s laughter, “Lin Lang, do you think it’s similar?”

What kind?

A single thought flashed through his mind, and for the next moment, he could only think of one thing: her face against my face… her face against my face…

As this thought finally became a confirmed fact, Li Xun’s body went limp, collapsing like mud. After the instinctive sensation faded, fear washed over him like a tsunami.

Why did she do this?

Lin Ge’s cold laughter, punctuated by a faint gnashing of teeth, reached his ears. Li Xun briefly thought it was because Lin Ge resented his cooperation with Yao Feng in humiliating him, but then he dismissed the idea… Lin Ge wasn’t so petty!

So why?

His mind was already a blur. But within this slurry of thoughts, a sudden enlightenment struck him. A flash of inspiration, like a startling flash of lightning in the dark night, with a crackle, illuminating the world in a pale white.

Could it be… Yu Sanren! Damn it! My face actually looks like Yu Sanren!

Li Xun collapsed to the ground, his emotions, the panic caused by the reality of the situation, and the rooted fear all mixed together. A series of huge waves submerged him.

He was drained of his last bit of strength by this change, but his mind was surprisingly clear.

Because only this answer made the most sense.

He immediately thought of the Immortal Master Qingyin of Zuowang Peak. Why did she look at him differently? Why did she ask him to meet Zhong Yin? Why did she change his appearance?

And then there were the strange attitudes of Qingxu, Mingji, and others. Of course, the most conclusive evidence was the current, almost cryptic conversation between Yaofeng and Lin Ge.

Yu Sanren! Only Yu San Ren could be this crucial hub. Placing Yu San Ren at the center of all the anomalies, all clues would flow through here and finally converge!

Moreover, this was the result after his face had changed. What if it remained unchanged… what would happen then?

The vague prospect made Li Xun’s entire body feel as if it were immersed in ice water, his blood freezing.

Yao Feng sighed softly, “Your disciple doesn’t have even a fraction of that man’s abilities, yet you have such a face. Isn’t that courting death?”

Hearing the word “death,” Li Xun’s heart felt as if it had sunk into an icy cave. Could this be Yao Feng’s reason for killing him?

He wanted to escape, but now he couldn’t even move a finger. He wanted to rely on Lin Ge, but how could he find the energy to care about him now?

Li Xun could sense that Lin Ge, severely wounded and provoked by the demon phoenix, had long since broken his will. Though he maintained a stubborn front, his spirit was lifeless, perhaps hoping to provoke the demon phoenix and wish for death.

But how could he possibly achieve his goal?

As expected, the demon phoenix sneered at Lin Ge, enjoying it immensely. Her tone grew lighter, a tone even more unnerving than her earlier, a flat and emotionless one.

Then, the demon phoenix spoke, “Lin Lang, why don’t you choose someone to deliver the message?”

Li Xun’s mind exploded, his heart pounding, then suddenly expanding. His body, limp as mud, suddenly tensed like a rock, trembling even more violently than before.

For a long moment, silence fell on the mountain path. Everyone’s breathing paused, and just before Li Xun collapsed, Lin Ge finally spoke, his voice weary and hoarse, his forced calm lost.

“Your life is in your hands. There’s no point in saying more. Just do as you please!” He paused, then suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness. “Fenghuang’er, delaying like this is truly not your nature!”

“That’s good, Lin Lang, don’t worry!”

Yao Feng replied calmly. Without even glancing at Li Xun at her feet, she turned and released a burst of True Qi, waking Qi Yun.

“This girl should have a chance too.”

Yao Feng was in high spirits, and because of this, Li Xun’s chance of survival was cut in half. He buried his head, not daring to look up. He only heard Qi Yun groan, then another scream, and the screams showed no sign of stopping!

“Shut up!”

As Yao Feng spoke, the air seemed to heat up instantly, and then the whole world fell silent.

Li Xun’s body shuddered. Though his brows drooped, he could still see a speck of black ash scraping against the ground and drifting away.

Yao Feng whispered, “I’ll give you that… I prefer quiet after all.”

Thanks to Qi Yun’s folly, Li Xun had surprisingly easily secured the sole remaining spot.

“…Alive?” the thought flashed through Li Xun’s mind. A moment before, his body had been like a rock, but now, he seemed to melt into the mountain path below.

It was a moment of complete relaxation, every muscle moment freed from the control of his will. A veil of white veil enveloped his vision, and the entire world became unreal.

Then, a heat surged through his lower body, and a stream of water flowed down between his legs, instantly soaking his clothes and filling the mountain path with a pungent, pungent smell.

Li Xun finally couldn’t hold back, sobbing.

This time, it was real—perhaps because of the pungent aura he exuded. Yao Feng flicked her sleeves and brushed him aside, her attention completely focused on Lin Ge.

Li Xun cried for a long time before finally mustering the courage to peek at their expressions. The angle was just right.

At this moment, he saw Yao Feng with a tender expression on his face, while Lin Ge had a calm expression.

And then, all of a sudden, Lin Ge smiled, and there was actually some affection in his smile. However, what didn’t match this smile was the content of his words: “Feng Huang’er, let me guess, what kind of death have you prepared for me.”

Yao Feng’s eyes flickered, and her expression softened. She smiled and replied, “Okay!”

If he only watched and didn’t listen, Li Xun would definitely think they were having s*x. Such a strange scene really made him doubt the mental state of this man and woman.

Yao Feng was fine, as she was a thousand-year-old monster and very different from ordinary people, but what was going on with Lin Ge?

Lin Ge said calmly, “That’s easy to guess. The methods you use to torture people are nothing more than ‘Hundred Tribulations Fire’, ‘Purgatory Fire’, ‘Great Light Fire’, ‘Seven Emotions Fire’, and so on.

“I guess you won’t want me to die. Moreover, even if you have a thousand ways to torture me, in the end, it’s just to vent your resentment from the past. You not only hate me, but also my master, so you will definitely find a way to humiliate me and bring disaster to my master! You kept my disciple because of this idea.

“So the ‘Emotion Fire’ can control the human mind and bite the six desires, which is exactly one of the tricks…” Having said this, he shook his head and smiled, and said no more.

Judging from the change in Yao Feng’s expression, it was obvious that Lin Ge had guessed right!

A look of surprise crossed Yao Feng’s delicate face. She said, “If Lin Lang could have concluded this based solely on speculation, I refuse to accept it!”

Lin Ge smiled silently, “You’re right. There’s indeed another reason… My nephew Qi Bi is imprisoned on the rock face, unable to escape. I imagine it’s your doing…”

Li Xun was startled by her words, but then Yao Feng chuckled softly. Someone, somehow, slowly emerged from the mountain stream. It was Qi Bi!

Qi Bi looked disheveled, her clothes disheveled, and several rips from the recent catastrophe revealed her snow-white skin.

Although she was completely restrained, she was conscious and clear, with tears still stained on her face. Of course, Li Xun knew perfectly well that these tears weren’t shed for him. She must have heard his utter disgrace just now…

At this thought, he lowered his face again, a wave of scorching heat washing over him.

Lin Ge’s tone remained unchanged. “Using ‘Seven Emotions Fire’ here is incredibly insidious. Fenghuang’er, you’ve picked up quite a few bad habits in Yama Heaven.”

Yao Feng replied calmly, “Small circles of evil breed evil. Seeing more often naturally leads to learning.”

As she spoke, Qi Bi was already in Yao Feng’s grasp. Her body was limp, its restraints unseen. Like a rag doll, she surrendered to Yao Feng’s manipulation.

Yao Feng’s slender fingers slid down her face, gently rubbing her equally white skin. The sensation was indescribably alluring.

Qi Bi didn’t know what he was thinking, but she knew the danger lay ahead. This somewhat strange form of contact only heightened her fear.

Lin Ge’s eyebrows twitched. “Even an ancient demon rarely uses such tactics…”

Yao Feng’s face revealed an inscrutable smile, which then faded into a chilling chill. “I happen to have learned it, and I find it quite effective. Lin Lang, there’s no need to doubt me!” “

Her fingers slid down Qi Bi’s face, passed over her neck, and touched the sensitive part of her chest.

Although Qi Bi was afraid, she couldn’t help blushing. She wanted to struggle but couldn’t move a finger. She could only let Yao Feng gently pinch her chest, and she couldn’t help but scream. She

didn’t know when the restriction on her voice had been released.

“It’s really pitiful!”

Yao Feng seemed to sigh, and when Li Xun heard this sigh, he felt cold to the bone. Yao Feng’s attitude was really too weird, and her purpose was already obvious.

“Seven Emotions Fire!”

Li Xun glanced at Lin Ge, then at Qi Bi. He had already thought of what Yao Feng was going to do.

It was really vicious!

Lin Ge was the elder Immortal Master, and Qi Bi was the younger disciple. In the Mingxin Sword Sect, which values respect for teachers and elders, if anything happened between them, no matter the cause, the consequences would be unbearable.

Torturing and insulting Lin Ge was less of a concern; the real problem was that if the sect’s reputation were tarnished, it would be impossible to restore it in a short period of time!

How could the Mingxin Sword Sect still claim to be the “First Sect of the East”?

Yao Feng’s move, while despicable, hit home!

At this thought, Li Xun’s heart fluttered again: “If that were the case, Qi Bi wouldn’t have died… Leaving him alive would be like Qing Yin a thousand years ago, a problem the sect couldn’t handle. A thousand years ago, Zhong Yin appeared out of nowhere and mitigated that stain, but what about today?”

Furthermore, for Li Xun himself, his current role was extremely awkward. He survived as an “ironclad witness.” His purpose in living was to make this matter an irrefutable fact. As long as he was there, the Mingxin Sword Sect would have no way to clear itself of suspicion!

But by then, what would he be?

One could imagine how miserable his future life would be.

Perhaps, dying just now would have been a more correct choice. Although he was now a free man, his entire body was weak. His so-called courage had long since been drained away along with that pool of filth…

He could only comfort himself this way: “Don’t die… As long as I don’t die, there’s a way!”

Perhaps because he had seen through everything, Lin Ge was much calmer in comparison. He glanced at Qi Bi, but he wasn’t anxious or impatient: “This method is indeed very insidious. However, since I have no hope of living, can I also choose to die?”

A dazzling fire flashed in the deep eyes of the demon phoenix, and she just smiled coldly.

“How can you die so easily?” With that, she flicked her finger, and a cyan flame ignited. Suddenly, Lin Ge’s entire body trembled violently. From beneath his shoulder blades, two beams of the same color burst forth, interwoven into a chain, almost tangible.

With the ‘Soul Chain’ planted within you, it’s not so easy to sever your own will to free yourself! “

Lin Ge’s face turned pale. Although he had already sat down on the ground, his body was still difficult to support. He shook twice and almost fell down. At this time, Yao Feng bent down and gently placed Qi Bi next to him.

The distance between the two was so close that their breathing could be heard. However, there was another Qi Bi between them.

Their eyes met in an instant. Lin Ge’s expression was calm, but Yao Feng smiled lightly, with great grace.

Then, Yao Feng stretched out a finger and pointed at Lin Ge’s forehead. Li Xun, who was standing by, only heard a sound, and saw that Lin Ge’s originally clear eyes turned into a chaotic dark turbidity in an instant.

Yao Feng’s palm slid across his face, but there was a trace of tenderness in her eyes. She only heard her sigh faintly: “It is an auspicious day… Lin Lang, you can enjoy these last days! As soon as she

finished speaking, she saw a cold and chilling light in the depths of Lin Ge’s eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, the powerful fire essence in the demon phoenix’s body instantly burst out, and its body retreated like a retrograde fire meteor.

However, it was still too late. A bit of icy true energy penetrated her lower abdomen like a sharp needle. Although it only penetrated a few inches, the insidious and sharp true energy caused the greatest damage to her fire essence constitution.

This was a technique specifically designed to deal with her, making tit-for-tat arrangements for the flow of her internal energy and meridians, and the emptiness and fullness of her acupoints . If it weren’t for the slight changes in her martial arts over the past century, this blow would have surely left her with incurable injuries!

Even so, she spat out a small mouthful of blood, the bright red dripping onto the rocks, creating a series of splashes.

Lin Ge staggered to his feet, his face still pale, but his eyes, now clear, shone with a blazing light that frightened anyone who looked directly at him.

The two stood a dozen steps apart, facing each other coldly.

After a long moment, a hint of a smile appeared on Lin Ge’s face. “Phoenix, even if my days are numbered, I don’t want to die this way.”

For some reason, Li Xun felt that there was something strange and garbled in Lin Ge’s voice.

Yao Feng wiped the blood from her lips, her face unconcealed with surprise: “How did you do that?”

As she spoke, the “Soul-Locking Chain” woven from the azure flames outside Lin Ge’s body suddenly disintegrated into a sky full of sparks, gradually fading into nothingness.

Lin Ge pointed to his head and said with a hint of self-mockery, “Use it here. ” “I’ve spent a hundred years pondering what tactics I should use if I ever encounter you. I’ve pondered day and night, and thought of almost every detail. If even this can’t be resolved, then these past hundred years have truly been wasted!”

Yao Feng frowned slightly, then continued, “So, your first sneak attack just now was also intended to humiliate me? Did you start plotting against me from that moment on?” “

Lin Ge smiled but did not answer. Then, he shook his body, crossed the distance of more than ten steps in the blink of an eye, and punched down – Li Xun only felt a flash before his eyes, and a violent gust of wind burst out from around the two of them, and rolled along the ground, turning him into a rolling gourd on the spot. He felt dizzy and almost rolled into the mountain stream.

The gust of wind came and went quickly. When Li Xun opened his eyes again, all he could see was the deserted mountain road, and there was a loud thunder in the sky. Occasionally, a ripple would sweep down, and deep grooves would be carved into the rocks near the mountain road.

When the two were fighting…” This thought flashed through Li Xun’s mind, but when he looked up, he saw Qi Bi. Her body was still restrained, lying on the mountain road, but she was blown more than ten feet away by the gust of wind that had just spread, and she was about to fall into the mountain stream again.

To save or not to save?

The encounter was fleeting. He struggled to his feet and bolted towards Qi Bi, drawing his Jade Sword as he ran.

Over ten feet away, the distance was covered in the blink of an eye. He continued his momentum, snatching up Qi Bi, clasping her in his arms, and leaping towards the ravine. A flash of jade light stopped at his feet, and with a burst of true energy, he was about to plunge into the deep ravine, using the terrain to escape.

At that moment, Lin Ge’s voice, unmistakable in its emotion, echoed behind him: “Where are you going?”

Li Xun froze, then turned sharply. After recognizing the speaker’s appearance, he exclaimed with joy, “Master!”

The cry came from the heart, without a trace of forced effort.

Although Lin Ge looked disheveled and wounded, there was no sign of the demon phoenix nearby. Had he been driven back?

Li Xun felt relieved, but he realized that his current actions were not fair in the eyes of Lin Ge, and he was embarrassed. He quickly took off his sword and jumped onto the mountain path. Just as he was about to explain, Lin Ge took Qi Bi from his hand and lifted the restriction with a flick of his finger.

Qi Bi broke free by herself and fell to the ground, but her eyes were red: “Master…”

She choked with sobs and couldn’t speak after she started to speak. This was still considered strong. If it were someone else, after watching more than ten companions turned into ashes, they would have probably had a mental breakdown. Compared with her, Li Xun lacked three points of backbone.

Li Xun felt guilty and did not dare to look up at her. He was thinking about how to save face when he returned to the mountain gate. However, he heard Lin Ge say in his ear: “You two, run for your lives separately!”

This statement stunned the two men, who looked up at him. Thin threads of blood oozed from Lin Ge’s mouth and nose, his appearance utterly miserable.

Even so, he managed a faint smile. “I just tricked her into retreating, but she won’t be hiding it for long. She’ll be back soon… Separate yourselves, maybe one of you can escape.”

Qi Bi cried out mournfully, “Master.” She tried to speak again, but Lin Ge grabbed her shoulders and flung her out of the mountain stream. This gesture was more powerful than any words could have been. Qi Bi knew exactly what Lin Ge meant.

After a brief pause, a rainbow of light shot up from the deep stream, pausing briefly at the height of the mountain path before radiating a brilliant light and piercing the clouds.

“She’s trying to attract attention for you…” Lin Ge gave his disciple a cold look.

Li Xun felt himself shrink, but then he heard Lin Ge smile.

“As expected, you’re the most like me! Well, why bother overthinking it? Survival is what matters most. Go ahead!”

Li Xun’s heart trembled with fear, but he knew now was not the time for more talk. He gritted his teeth, kowtowed once more, and turned to leave.

His mind was buzzing, a cacophony of emotions, a mix he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

Li Xun, after all, lacked Qi Bi’s noble character. When flying his sword, he only dared to keep it extremely low, hovering close to the mountains and forests. This was a test of his skill and courage, but the constant threat of death was a thorn in his side, a boost to his perseverance.

It felt as if his speed was barely any different from when he was flying high in the sky. In just half an incense stick of time, he had traveled hundreds of miles along the mountain range. Even if the demonic phoenix pursued him, it wouldn’t be able to catch up for a while.

He felt a bit short of breath, probably because of the nervousness, which consumed his vital energy far more than usual. He couldn’t sustain himself after just such a short distance.

This simply couldn’t go on. He had to slow down, slowly regulate his breathing, and steady his mind. This moment of calming his mind revealed the magic of the “Jade Exorcism.” A subtle coolness quickly permeated his heart, calming his racing heart. He felt the coolness rising to his brain, along with the blood and energy, restoring clarity to his mind.

Once back to normal, Li Xun’s swordplay became much more agile, and his mind was restless. Every scene from the previous incident flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. He pondered the key points, especially the part about the Jade Wanderer. The more he thought about it, the deeper its meaning became.

He remembered that when the “Zuowang Stone” analyzed his three lives, it had revealed the aura of a “lonely evil spirit.” Back then, Qingyin and Qingming believed he was the reincarnation of a cultivator who had failed to transcend the tribulation, perishing in all three lives, yet still managed to maintain a glimmer of consciousness.

If that cultivator was the Jade Wanderer, then everything would be clear. However, judging by the attitudes of Qingyin, Lin Ge, and especially Yaofeng, the Jade Wanderer was clearly still alive and well!

What’s the reason for this?

Li Xun felt vaguely that if he could solve this mystery, he would understand a lot about his future journey.

Although his mind was full of thoughts, the speed of flying the sword did not slow down at all. Seeing that he had flown hundreds of miles and was about to fly over the Tiandu Mountains, he gradually relaxed.

This distance should be safe!

Li Xun began to recall the distribution of the junction of the human world and the Tongxuan world. The most important thing now is to go back to the mountain to report this tragedy. Only when he reached the mountain, his life would be truly guaranteed.

While he was thinking, a light laugh suddenly sounded above his head: “Where are you going?”